Compression unit and a radial artery compression system

Abstract

The invention relates to a compression unit adapted to be arranged around a patient's forearm to provide pressure to a radial artery puncture site, wherein the compression unit comprises a unit attachment band provided with a frame, and a compression element in the shape of an inflatable bladder, the compression element is further adapted to be arranged within said frame, such that when the compression unit is arranged around a patient's forearm, the compression element provides pressure to the puncture wound when the compression element is inflated. The invention also relates to a radial artery compression system.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A compression unit configured to be arranged around a patient's forearm to provide pressure to a radial artery puncture site, comprising:
 a unit attachment band provided with a frame, and 
 a compression element that comprises an inflatable bladder, 
 wherein the compression element is further arranged within and bounded by the frame such that a side of the inflatable bladder facing away from the radial artery puncture site is uncovered and exposed through the frame, such that when the compression unit is arranged around the patient's forearm, the compression element provides pressure to the radial artery puncture site when the inflatable bladder is inflated, 
 wherein the compression element is attached to the frame by at least one mechanical joint, and 
 wherein the at least one mechanical joint comprises at least one loop attached to the outside of the inflatable bladder, and the frame comprises a protruding part configured to pass through the at least one loop to hold the compression element in place within the frame. 
 
     
     
       2. A radial artery compression system, comprising:
 a compression unit configured to be arranged around a patient's forearm to provide pressure to a radial artery puncture site, further comprising
 a unit attachment band provided with a frame, and 
 a compression element that comprises an inflatable bladder, 
 wherein the compression element is further arranged within and bounded by the frame such that a side of the inflatable bladder facing away from the radial artery puncture site is uncovered and exposed through the frame, such that when the compression unit is arranged around the patient's forearm, the compression element provides pressure to the radial artery puncture site when the inflatable bladder is inflated, and 
 
  a dorsal forearm plate provided with a distal and a proximal attachment band, configured to attach the dorsal forearm plate at the dorsal forearm of the patient and fixate the patient's wrist in a flexed position, 
  wherein the compression unit is configured to be arranged around the patient's forearm where the dorsal forearm plate is attached and fixed, such that the compression element provides pressure to the radial artery puncture site, 
 the dorsal forearm plate further comprising 
  a three-dimensional concave shape configured to the shape of the dorsal forearm such that the dorsal forearm may rest on the dorsal forearm plate, 
  an essentially rectangular extension having opposing long sides and opposing short sides, and 
  a substantially rigid unitary body configured to underlie the posterior of the patient's hand, wrist and forearm, 
  wherein a shape of a side of the dorsal forearm plate is further configured to face the forearm during use, and further comprises two elongated depressions running in a longitudinal direction of the dorsal forearm plate such that, during use of the dorsal forearm plate, the ulnar bone and radius bone of the patient rest in a respective depression, and an elongated ridge, formed between the two elongated depressions, is configured to extend into the softer tissue between the bones in order to orient and stabilize the forearm when attached to the plate. 
 
     
     
       3. The radial artery compression system according to  claim 2 , wherein the frame has an essentially rectangular shape. 
     
     
       4. The radial artery compression system according to  claim 2 , wherein the compression element has an elongated extension, defining a longitudinal axis of the element, parallel to a longitudinal direction of an artery to which the compression element is to be applied. 
     
     
       5. The radial artery compression system according to  claim 2 , wherein the compression element is attached to the frame by at least one mechanical joint. 
     
     
       6. The radial artery compression system according to  claim 2 , wherein the compression element is glued or welded to the frame. 
     
     
       7. The radial artery compression system according to  claim 2 , wherein the inflatable bladder comprises a first part configured to face the radial artery puncture site, and an opposite second part, wherein the first part and the second part are attached to each other. 
     
     
       8. The radial artery compression system according to  claim 7 , wherein the first part and the second part are made of elastic material. 
     
     
       9. The radial artery compression system according to  claim 8 , wherein the first part and the second part are at least partly made of materials with different elasticity. 
     
     
       10. The radial artery compression system according to  claim 7 , wherein the first part and the second part are made of non-elastic material. 
     
     
       11. The radial artery compression system according to  claim 2 , wherein the compression element comprises a tube connection configured to be connected to a tube for inflation of the inflatable bladder. 
     
     
       12. The radial artery compression system according to  claim 2 , wherein the compression element is made from a transparent material, thereby providing the possibility of direct visual observation of the radial artery puncture site, which facilitates the positioning of the compression element. 
     
     
       13. The radial artery compression system according to  claim 2 , wherein the unit attachment band is fixed to the frame. 
     
     
       14. The radial artery compression system according to  claim 13 , wherein the unit attachment band is provided with hook-and-loop fasteners used to attach the unit to the arm of the patient. 
     
     
       15. The radial artery compression system according to  claim 13 , wherein the unit attachment band is provided with holes and the frame is provided with a mating attachment knob. 
     
     
       16. The radial artery compression system according to  claim 2 , wherein a height of the elongated ridge at a cross-section located essentially at a midpoint of the dorsal forearm plate in the longitudinal direction is at a level being in the interval of 10-50% of a total height of the dorsal forearm plate at the cross-section. 
     
     
       17. The radial artery compression system according to  claim 2 , wherein the attachment bands are provided with hook-and-loop fasteners used to attach the dorsal forearm plate to the arm of the patient. 
     
     
       18. The radial artery compression system according to  claim 2 , wherein the attachment bands are provided with holes and the dorsal forearm plate is provided with mating attachment knobs. 
     
     
       19. The radial artery compression system according to  claim 2 , wherein the dorsal forearm plate is essentially arc shaped in the longitudinal direction such that it rests only on its short sides when arranged on a plane surface, and that each of the short sides has an essentially straight supporting edge along a major part of its length and the supporting edges of the short sides being arranged in the same virtual plane. 
     
     
       20. The radial artery compression system according to  claim 2 , wherein the dorsal forearm plate is provided with a recess extending from the distal short side extending in the proximal direction such that an opening, having an essentially rectangular shape, is provided in the dorsal forearm plate, so as to gain access to blood vessels at the dorsal side of the hand. 
     
     
       21. The radial artery compression system according to  claim 2 , wherein a surface of the dorsal forearm plate not intended to face the forearm is provided with a texture such that the friction is high and that the high friction surface extends at least along the mid third part of the dorsal forearm plate. 
     
     
       22. The radial artery compression system according to  claim 2 , wherein the dorsal forearm plate is made from pressure moulded plastic. 
     
     
       23. A compression unit configured to be arranged around a patient's forearm to provide pressure to a radial artery puncture site, comprising:
 a unit attachment band provided with a frame, and 
 a compression element that comprises an inflatable bladder, 
 wherein the compression element is further arranged within and bounded by the frame such that a side of the inflatable bladder facing away from the radial artery puncture site is uncovered and exposed through the frame, such that when the compression unit is arranged around the patient's forearm, the compression element provides pressure to the radial artery puncture site when the inflatable bladder is inflated, and 
 wherein the compression element further comprises a protruding part disposed at one end of the frame, a first loop attached to an outside of the inflatable bladder and configured to hold the unit attachment band, and a second loop attached to the outside of the inflatable bladder and configured to hold the protruding part to attach the inflatable bladder to the frame.